Go Be the Church

You start as a caretaker, responsible for every meal, every bath, and every 'no.' But the goal isn’t to stay there forever. The goal is a grown man or woman who loves Jesus with their own heart and walks in their own calling. But how do you actually get them from here... to there? Welcome to the Go Be The Church podcast. Today, we’re digging into the 'Relational Mini-Series' fo...

Hi! I’m the daughter of one of the hosts. Growing up in a pastor’s home, I learned that faith wasn’t a Sunday performance but the little things we did every day: a one-verse memory learned with a silly hand motion, a quick blessing at the table, a simple prayer whispered before bed. Tonight they’re going to be honest about how those tiny, ordinary rhythms actually shape a life — and about the real...

What does it mean to build a marriage that honors God—rooted in love, respect, and mutual service? On this episode of *Go Be the Church*, Pastors Eric and Stephen dive into the heart of biblical marriage. They explore how Christ’s love for the church sets the standard for husbands and wives, what it means to lead and submit in healthy, life-giving ways, and how to foster unity without losing indiv...

Dating can feel like a minefield — full of hope, confusion, and sometimes heartbreak. On this episode of Go Be the Church, we cut through the noise with plainspoken, gospel-centered wisdom for anyone dating today. If you’re wondering how to date well — not just for fun, but with marriage in mind — you’re in the right place. Today we’ll unpack a simple rule: “Date slow, but find someone who’s FAST....

Let’s be honest—when someone in church says they’re single, what do we usually assume? That they’re waiting, that they’re incomplete, that they’re just in a holding pattern. What if I told you we’ve quietly made marriage the spiritual promotion and treated singleness like the waiting room? Today we’ll push back on that idea. We’ll lean into 1 Corinthians—where Paul, surprisingly, says he wishes mo...

What would change if you woke up tomorrow and remembered you’re not just living your life—you’re representing a Kingdom? Scripture says we are ‘ambassadors for Christ,’ and that’s not metaphor fluff. An ambassador doesn’t speak for himself; he speaks on behalf of the one who sent him. So today we’re talking about the weight and the beauty of representing Jesus in a world that isn’t neutral territo...

Before anyone panics—no, we’re not claiming new, capital-A Apostles with Scripture-writing assignments. But we are going to talk about something the Bible makes normal for every Christian: being ‘sent.’ The word apostle literally means ‘sent one,’ and if Jesus says, ‘As the Father has sent me, I am sending you,’ then being sent isn’t a rare calling for a few people—it’s basic Christianity. Today w...

If you asked ten Christians to define the word ‘disciple,’ you’d probably get eleven answers—and most of them would sound like ‘a follower of Jesus,’ without really explaining what that means in real life. So today we’re going to clear the fog. In the first century, a disciple wasn’t a casual listener or a weekend attendee—discipleship meant apprenticeship: proximity to Jesus, obedience to Jesus,...

Be honest—when you hit a genealogy in the Bible, do you read it… or do your eyes suddenly develop spiritual speed-walking? Today we’re talking about why Scripture spends so much ink on names, and why that’s not a pointless detail—it’s a pattern. In the Bible, names aren’t just labels; they’re identity, calling, and often a clue to what God is doing in the story. We’ll look at the genealogies of Je...

Last time, we talked about why the Old Testament matters, but today we’re getting into the how . If we’re honest, most of us have felt the 'Bible Guilt'—that feeling that Scripture is just a textbook we’re supposed to study or a checklist to complete. But what if the Bible isn't just a book of information, but a place of encounter? Today, we’re talking about the power of hearing God...

Today, we are building a bridge. We’ve spent this series looking at the Old Testament, but today we’re seeing how the New Testament writers—specifically the author of Hebrews—viewed those ancient texts. If you’ve ever felt like the Bible is two different stories with two different versions of God, this episode is for you. We’re exploring how the New Testament doesn't replace the Old; it revea...

We’re kicking things off with a brand-new look, but we’re diving straight into one of the oldest, messiest, and most misunderstood parts of our faith: The Old Testament. For a lot of us, the 'First Volume' of the Bible feels like a confusing collection of hard-to-pronounce names, weird laws about bacon and fabric, and a version of God that feels… well, different. But if we skip the Old T...

In this unfiltered Season 1 finale of the Go Be the Church Podcast , Eric and Stephen tackle the questions you actually wanted answered. From Jesus’ model of ministry to Revelation’s real meaning, from dating advice to Dodgers fandom, nothing is off-limits. Expect hot takes, honest answers, and a few laughs along the way as we wrestle with what it really means to follow Jesus in everyday life. Whe...

Hosts: Eric Friedmann and Stephen Albi, with special guest: Blake Porter  God doesn’t call us to be perfect messengers—just willing ones. In this episode, we’ll help you find the courage and clarity to share your faith with the people who need it most. Follow us on  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gobethechurchpodcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GoBeTheChurchPodcast Web:  https://www.f...

Hosts: Eric Friedmann, Jared Prince, and first-time guest: Michelle Jacob! We no longer bow to statues, but we still bow to the things we chase for security or identity. What’s the hardest idol for you to let go of? Feel free to reach out to us on Instagram (@gobethechurchpodcast) or email (podcast@fcc-online.org). Follow us on  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gobethechurchpodcast/ YouTube: h...

Hosts from left to right: Stephen Albi, Jared Prince, Samuel Green, and Eric Friedmann. If there’s one book that has shaped history, families, and faith more than any other, it’s the Bible. But let’s be honest—most of us struggle to read it consistently, let alone let it sink into our everyday lives. In this episode, we’re discussing why we truly need the Bible, not just as a Sunday accessory, but...

Featuring: Eric and Diana Friedmann, and Katlyn and Ben Morin. Voiceover: Lauren Hopper Marriage is often called the ultimate team sport—but even the best teams face challenges. In this episode, we have an honest and helpful conversation about navigating the ups, downs, and arounds of marriage. Specifically, we aim to debunk common misconceptions about marriage and explore practical tools, discuss...

Stephen Albi, Elaine Stone, and guests Grant and Jackie Risley. Raising kids today can feel like walking a tightrope—balancing school, screen time, and social pressures—all while trying to raise them in the fear and love of God. In this episode, we’re sitting down with two teachers and parents who are navigating the highs, lows, and unexpected lessons of integrating faith into everyday life. From...

Today, we’re talking about a calling that changes everything — when God invites you to leave the marketplace and step into ministry. We’re sitting down with two guests and newer staff members at First Christian Church, Katlyn Morin and Jordan Dunahee, who’ve walked that road — trading business plans for kingdom work — and they’re sharing the honest truth about what that transition was really like:...

Today, we're diving into a topic that’s as simple as talking — and as deep as the heart of God: prayer. Samuel Green, Stephen Albi, and a special guest, Mackenzie Green (Samuel's wife) share about their honest journeys with prayer — the highs, the struggles, the breakthroughs — because let's be honest, prayer isn’t always easy. And we won’t stop at stories. We’ll share practical too...

Today's episode is a special one. We're celebrating the release of the official studio recording of All That You Have Grown: a powerful and deeply personal worship song written by First Christian Church's Creative Arts Pastor, Jared Prince. With your host, Eric Friedman, dive into the story behind the song and get a peek into the creative process that brought it to life.  It's...

In this episode, we’re diving deep into one of the most vital aspects of the Christian life — abiding in Jesus . What does it truly mean to remain connected to the True Vine? How do we stay spiritually rooted in a world full of distractions, stress, and spiritual dryness? Today, we’re not only going to unpack what Jesus meant in John 15 when He said, 'Abide in me, and I in you' , but we’...

Juneteenth — a day of freedom, resilience, and remembrance. But what does it mean for the Church? What does it look like to truly pursue racial reconciliation in a way that reflects the heart of Jesus? Today, we’re not pulling punches. We’re exploring the legacy of slavery, the Church’s silence — and sometimes complicity — and how we, as followers of Christ, can be part of God's redemptive wo...

Today we’re talking about the Holy Spirit—how different Christians understand Him, and more importantly, how we can actually live with the Spirit day to day. Whether you’ve grown up in a charismatic church or barely heard much about the Holy Spirit at all, this episode is for you. We’re not here to debate—we’re here to explore the beauty and mystery of the Spirit, and to invite Him into our everyd...

Go Be the Church. It's not just the name of our podcast, it's the benediction we give every week at First Christian Church in Champaign, Illinois. Have you ever stopped to ask yourself, "What does that even mean? What does it actually look like to be the Church once we walk out those doors?" Join us as we talk about that in Episode One and give you some practical tools to be th...